CHAPTER 254: THE ROAD BEYOND ( 254 )

That afternoon.

Kisha stood quietly in front of the orphanage door, hands clasped in front of her apron.

The courtyard, usually filled with the laughter and chatter of children, felt different—quieter. More solemn.

The kids had gathered outside, watching with mixed emotions as Hazuki adjusted the strap of his worn leather side bag across his shoulder.

No armor. No weapon on his back.

Just a plain shirt, sturdy pants, and his weathered boots.

"Uncle... you really leaving?" one of the smaller boys finally asked.

Hazuki looked at him, then at the others.

He gave a tired grin and scratched the back of his head.

"Yeah. Sightseeing, remember?" he said, trying to keep his tone casual. "Can’t see the world standing still."

Some of the kids nodded. A few fidgeted with the hems of their clothes. Chasia and Elvia stood side by side, quiet but watching every move.

Kisha stepped forward, her voice gentle.

"Do you... need anything? I packed some food."

Hazuki shook his head lightly.

"Nah. I’ll grab something on the road."

A pause.

"I already left more than enough for you and the kids," he added, voice a bit quieter now. "So just... live well. Don’t make me come back just to lecture you all."

"Yessir!!" the kids all shouted at once, trying to hide their wavering voices.

Hazuki chuckled.

Then knelt down, patting the heads of the nearest few.

"You’re all tougher than you think."

Hazuki smiled.

Everyone froze.

It was rare—no, the first time—any of them had seen him smile like that.

Not the usual smirk, not the annoyed grin or tired look...

A real, gentle smile.

Kisha felt her breath catch in her throat.

He’s... actually handsome like this.

Her heart skipped, just once, before she quickly looked down.

Chasia’s eyes sparkled in awe.

Elvia’s cheeks turned slightly pink.

Even the younger kids stared in silence, as if afraid that the moment might vanish if they blinked.

Then—

Hazuki’s smile slowly shifted into that familiar, lopsided grin.

"Alright everyone!" he shouted, raising a hand like he was announcing a festival. "I’ll stop by once I finish up my journey!"

He turned slightly, walking a few steps toward the road.

Then, just before leaving the gate, he looked back over his shoulder.

"And I better see all of you cleaned up and looking good—

Because you’re all invited to my wedding!"

The kids gasped.

Kisha’s jaw dropped.

Elvia and Chasia exchanged wide-eyed looks.

"W-Wedding!?"

Hazuki just laughed, turning back and waving one hand as he strolled down the path.

Ridan hovered beside him, snickering quietly.

And just like that—

Hazuki was gone from their sight.

But none of them would forget the smile he left behind.

"Are we going by foot or carriage? Or should I buy a horse?" Hazuki asked, adjusting the strap of his leather side bag.

"I dunno, man. It’s up to you," Ridan replied while spinning lazily in the air. "But sightseeing like before? Just walking without direction? That’s better, right?"

"Yeah..." Hazuki nodded slowly. "It’s not that bad. Walking. Enjoying the sights. Better than getting bored staying in one place."

He reached for his waist, checking the short sword—

the one that bound Ridan’s spirit.

Still there. Solid. Familiar.

He gave the leather bag a soft pat.

"I think we should stock something first," he muttered. "Just in case."

"Like what? Booze?" Ridan smirked.

Hazuki shot him a look. "Oi! You can eat now too, remember?"

"What?" Ridan grinned, doing a midair backflip. "We can just hunt monsters and get the meat. No need to worry."

"Oh yeah... That’s true."

Hazuki rubbed his chin. "Still, might as well get some strong liquor. In small flasks. Man, I still wonder how they even make stuff like that in this world."

"If you wanna know," Ridan said, circling overhead with a smug expression,

"you should visit the Dwarven Kingdom then. They’re the ones who invented distillation magic ages ago."

"Dwarves, huh?"

Hazuki looked ahead, toward the open road.

Blue skies, a breeze brushing through the tall grass.

"Maybe we’ll head there eventually. Who knows."

He stretched his arms.

"Alright... Let’s start walking. One step at a time."

Ridan floated beside him. "Adventure, ho?"

"Shut up."

Too bad, Hazuki," Ridan said, spinning slowly through the air above him. "If this adventure of yours wasn’t tied to one girl, you could’ve slept around with all kinds of women. Imagine the fun~ maybe even leave a trail of babies across the continent."

Hazuki sighed, keeping his pace steady as they passed through the town gate.

"This face?" he pointed at himself. "No way, man. Back in my old world, girls didn’t even look twice at me. Never smiled. Nothing."

"For real?" Ridan floated beside him, genuinely baffled. "Were they blind or what?"

"Don’t know," Hazuki muttered with a shrug. "Just how it was."

They walked on in silence for a moment, letting the breeze brush against them as the road opened ahead.

"Let’s hit the liquor store," Hazuki said finally. "Buy one or two flasks, and maybe a bottle of something strong. Feels like I’ll need it."

"Heh. Now you’re talking," Ridan grinned.

The two continued toward town, quiet but calm, steps steady and hearts lighter.

Once they arrived at the liquor store, Hazuki stepped in casually, glanced over the rows of glass bottles on the wooden shelves, and pointed toward a few with familiar shapes.

"That one... and that one too. One flask, one bottle." he said, sliding a few silver coins onto the counter.

Ridan floated lazily above, arms behind his head. "Man can’t enjoy a journey if bag weighs more."

"Yeah," Hazuki muttered, stuffing the purchased liquor into his leather side bag. "I don’t like carrying too much crap."

"Besides," Ridan added with a smirk, "there’ll be booze in every town. Just buy small, drink fast, restock often. Adventurer logic."

"True," Hazuki said, then turned toward the store owner. "Hey, where’s the place to get a carriage to the next town?"

The store owner, a burly mole beastkin with round spectacles, glanced up from his counter and scratched his chin. "Oh? Depends where you’re headed, mister."

Hazuki raised an eyebrow. "Lay it out for me."

"Well," the owner started, pointing a stubby finger toward a map nailed to the wall behind him. "If you’re heading south, you’ll reach another beastkin town, and from there, it’s a straight line to the halfling country."

"Ah... the border town between beastkin and halfling kingdom, huh?" Hazuki nodded slowly. "I’ve been there before."

"Yep. Now, if you go east, still in beastkin land, but after a couple more towns, you’ll find a trade route that leads straight into the dwarven territory. Bit rough terrain though."

Hazuki folded his arms, thinking.

"North?" the shopkeep continued. "That’s toward the beastkin capital. You know what’s there."

"Yeah..." Hazuki frowned, clearly not eager.

"Or west," the owner said, "you’ll pass a few more beastkin towns before eventually reaching the human kingdom. That way’s long but straightforward."

Hazuki gave a small nod of appreciation. "Thanks for the info, old man."

The owner grinned. "Anytime, mister saviour. Safe travels."

Hazuki stepped out of the liquor store, the sun warm against his skin, leather side bag lightly clinking with every step.

"So, Ridan."

"Yeah?" the floating spirit twirled in a lazy circle beside him.

"Which way you think is good?"

Ridan rubbed his chin dramatically, still upside down in the air. "Hmm... how about dwarven country? You like booze, right? I heard theirs could knock a troll out cold."

Hazuki’s eyes lit up. "Ohhh! You know I’m always down for strong liquor!"

Ridan grinned, spinning upright. "Then east gate it is."

Hazuki gave a satisfied nod and started walking toward the gate road. "Dwarven booze, huh... wonder if they serve it in barrels or buckets."

"Or straight from the keg~" Ridan snickered. "Let’s see how long before you pass out."

"Oi, I’ll have you know I’m a professional drinker," Hazuki retorted, puffing his chest.

"A professional idiot, maybe."

"Anyway," Hazuki muttered, adjusting the strap of his bag, "this will be good. A clean start. Sightseeing, quiet life, new towns... and maybe some good food."

"And barrels of dwarven booze," Ridan added, grinning while floating backward.

Hazuki chuckled. "Yeah. That too."

As the east gate came into view, a few beastkin guards nodded at Hazuki as he passed. He returned the nods with a slight wave, no need for words. They knew who he was by now—the weird black-haired human who cleared two monster rifts, spoke to the air.

They let him pass without question.

Once outside the gate, the world opened up: grassy plains, winding roads, and the faint shimmer of the mountain ridges far in the east—the beginning of dwarven territory beyond.

Hazuki paused, inhaling deeply. The scent of earth, distant pine, and the promise of adventure filled his lungs.

"Oi, Ridan."

"What now?" the spirit replied, somersaulting midair.

"Let’s make this journey worthwhile. Find booze, new places, and maybe a nice ring for a certain future bride."

Ridan snorted. "Heh~ romantic fool."

"Yeah, well... even us fools got dreams."

With that, they stepped forward.

( End Of Chapter )